Love's Requiem

“Isabella, come back again soon.” My grandma frowned,

“I will Baka.” I assured her, as she put her hand over mine. “You should visit New York again.” I told her.

“I’m too old to do that long plane ride anymore.” She told me.

“What are you talking about you don’t look a day past 50.” I said cracking a smile.

“Very funny Isabella.” She chuckled.

“Still trying to get on her good side?” I heard a familiar voice say behind me, making me smile.

“I already am.” I said turning around to see Niko standing there.

“You’re brother let me in.” He said taking a seat next to me.

“If this isn’t a sight for sore eyes, the two of you together again.” My grandma gushed, getting up and grabbing her camera to take a few pictures of us.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, as I heard my brother, Alex and my dad come back in through the front door.

“Well first I couldn’t let you go with out saying good bye, and two I have a few things for you.”

“You already gave me something.” I said, thinking back to the night before Christmas Eve when he showed up to give me his old Jersey.

“Well I guess you then don’t want your Christmas present from Luka.” He smiled.

“No, no never mind! I’ll take it.” I exclaimed making him and my grandma laugh.

“What is she taking now?” My brother asked, as him and Alex came in to the kitchen.

“Luka got me something for Christmas.” I said smiling big, as Niko handed me a bag.

“More stuff!” Alex whined.

“I can fit this in my carry on.” I assured him.

“Thank god.” He sighed in relief as I pulled out to see what was in the bag.

“It’s beautiful.” I smiled looking at the nesting doll that was inside.

“He wanted me to tell you, you better still like these.” Niko told me in English.

“Are you kidding, I have these all over my room and apartment.” I told him putting it back in the bag. “Tell him I said thank you, and give him a huge hug from me.”

“Yeah sure.” He chuckled.

Niko and I sat in the kitchen with my grandma and Alex talking a little while longer until it was time for me to leave.

“Come see me in New York sometime.” I told Niko in Croatian, as he was walking me out of my grandma’s house after I said bye to her.

“How about you just keep coming back home more?” He asked me.

“I’ll try.”

“Open this when you’re home.” He told me giving me an envelope that felt sort of heavy.

“What is it?”

“Just open it when you’re home and you’ll find out.”

“Okay.” I said quickly shoving it in my backpack having a feeling he didn’t want Alex to see it.

“I’m going to miss you.”

“Stay out of trouble, and no more tattoos.”

“I can’t make any promises on that.” I told him, making him laugh as Alex and my dad came
out the front door.

“Get back safely.” He said hugging me tightly. “You’ll always be my Isabella.” He whispered in my ear.

I nodded, and kissed his cheek, as he let go of me.

“Bye.” I said quietly as Alex took my hand as we got in to the back of the car.

“You okay?” Alex whispered to me as I stared out the window feeling tears build up in my eyes.

“Mhm.” I nodded, trying to calm down.

He kissed my ear and gave my hand a squeeze. When we got to the airport and checked in my dad left us at our gate. We were waiting maybe 15 minutes till we had to board the plane. Which gave Niko and I enough time to pick up some magazines for the ride back. My curiosity about what was in the envelope was started to work on me. I couldn’t help but wonder what it could be. To be honest, after we boarded the plane everything else was a blur. I remember getting on the plane in Zagreb, and the next thing I knew I was landed in JFK. I can’t even remember when we switched over in Germany. Alex was going straight to Baltimore, an hour after we landed back in JFK. And I was going to see him in three days when I go down for New Years. Niko grabbed a cab home right away to get some sleep, while I waited with Alex till his flight boarded and Jesse was waiting for me in the parking lot.

“It’s like you came back with more shit!” Jesse exclaimed as I put my sunglasses on to block the sunlight from blinding me.

“I’m pretty sure I did.” I said as I put my bags down and jumped on him.

“How ya doin’ kiddo?” He asked me hugging me back tightly.

“Sad, hungry, and out of it.” I told him as he put me down and we put my stuff in the trunk.

“Well than it’s a good thing I stopped to get us breakfast before coming here.” He said giving me a grin as he drove off.

“I knew there was a reason why I kept you around Ketive.” I laughed as I rested my head against the window, closing my eyes.